Skirt-hanger.



No. 656,487. Patented Aug. 2|, 1900. L. In. sum.

SKIRT HANGER. (Application filed Jan. 15, 1900.) (No Model.)

m: nonms Perms do. PHOYO-LITML. WASHINGTON, o. c,

ITED STATES P TENT ()FFICE U Y' M H, F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS. a

. "SKI RTV-HANGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,487, dated August 21, 1900. i

Application filed January 15, 19(10- Serial No. 1,478. (No model.) I

ToaZZ whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that I, LUCY M. SMITH, of Lynn, in the countyot Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skirt-Hangers, of which the followingis a specification, i e

. This invention relates to hangers or forms for keeping ladies? skirts in shape when not in use.

The invention consists ina hanger having certain novel characteristics of structure and arrangement hereinafter claimed and described in the specification.

Of the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a rear elevation of askirt-hanger constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 representsan enlarged section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. i

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 1 designate two side bars arranged in downwardly-divergent form, so as to correspond to the outlines of a skirt, and having skirt-supporting portions which terminate at their upper ends in two shoulders 36 36, located near the upper ends of the bars and adapted to support the waistmade adjustable in length to accord with the other adjustments of the hanger, which I shall presently describe, the said cross-bar forming a stiffening connection which holds the lower ends of the side bars at a fixed distance apart.

The bar 3 consists of two overlapping sections 4 5, pivoted to the bars 1 1 and adjustably connected by means of a clamp or fastening 6, the stern of which passes through an elongated slot '1' in the section 4. The side bars 1 are also adjustable in length, each 0on sisting, as shown, of an upper section 8 and a lower section 9, adjustably connected by a clamp or fastening 10, the section 8 having a slot 12, through which the stem of said clamp passes. A section of the'clamp 10 is shown in detail in Fig. 3, the same comprising a threaded stem 33, fixed to the. section 9 and passing through the slot 12 in the section 8, a thumb-nut 34, screwing on said stem, and a washer 35, interposed between the said thumb-nut and section 8. Astiflfening-sheath 13 may be applied to the joint between the sections 8 9, the edges of said sheath being shown in the drawings as interposed between the washer 35 and the section 8. The clamp 6 is or maybe of a similar construction to the clamp 10. The side bars 1 may, by the de:

scribed construction, be adjustedin length for skirts of diiferent lengths, and if thesame angle be maintained between the side bars during their adjustment for length it will obviously be necessary to vary the length of the cross-bar 3.

Connected to the side bars 1 1 just below the shoulders 36 36 is a cross-bar l4, bowed out rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, and constituting a skirt-distender equivalent to a bustle for filling out the upper back portion of the skirt. The bar 14 is adjustable in length to either vary the amount of its rearward projection or to accommodate the different angular adjustments of the side bars 1 1. It consists, as shown, of two overlapping sections 15 16, pivoted at 17 18 to the side bars 1 1 and connected by a clamp or fastening 21,

the stem of which passes through elongated immediately above the bar 14 and forming a rigidconnection between said side bars. The cross-bar 26 is adjustable in length to accom modate the difierent angular adjustments of the side bars and, as shown, consists of overlapping sections 27 28, pivoted at 29 30 to the side bars 1 1 and connected by a clamp or fastening 31, the stem of which passes through an elongated slot 32 in the section 27. The clamps 21, 24, and 31 are or may be rigid connection with similar in constructionto the clamp 10, the

clamp 21, however, having its stem free from either of the sections of the bar 14. V

The adjustment of the hanger to vary the angle of divergence between the side bars 1 1 for skirts of varying outline or flare'is accomplished by loosening the clamps 6 and 31 in the lower and upper cross-bars, spreading or contracting the sidebars 1 1, and retight-- The distending-bar..14...

ening the clamps. may then, if desired, be readjusted in length to maintain its former distance of projection It willbe observed that with the exception of the rearwardly-projecting skirt-distendin g member all the parts are in practically the same plane or in parallel planes lyingclose together, so that the device while wide and ample in one direction is very thin in the other direction. Hence several of the hangers with skirts thereon can be suspended side by side on a single peg or support.

I claim 1. A skirt-hanger comprising side bars havingsubstantially-straightbodyportions which diverge downwardly from the upper end of the hanger, and inwardly-curved end portions the extremities of which are hinged together to permit the bars to swing toward and from each other to vary the angle of divergence of the body portions, said end portions constituting a loop for engagement with a support, anda cross-bar adjustable in length and connecting the straight body portions and holdingthem at the desired angle of divergence. V '2. Askirt-hanger comprisingside bars havingsubstantially-straightbodyportions which diverge downwardly from the upper end of the hanger, and inwardly-curved end portions, the extremities of which are hinged tions and holding them atthe desired angle of divergence, the side bars having shoulders 36 betweenthe'body portions and the curved 'endportions.

3. A skirt-hanger comprising side bars arranged in downwardly divergent form and in parallel planes, adjustable spacing means located between said bars and in planes par- ,allel therewith, and a skirt-distending memberat theupper portion of the hanger andv 1 parallel planes, adjustable spacing means located between said bars and in planes parallel therewith, a skirt-distending member at the upper portion of the hanger and projecting from one side thereof, and skirt-supporting shoulders 36 formed on the upper portions of the side bars above the skirt-distending member.

5. A skirt-hanger comprising side bars arrangedin downwardly-divergent form, a rearwardly-bowed cross-bar attached near the upperends of said side bars, and diagonal braces connecting said cross-bar with the side bars.

6. A skirt-hanger comprising side bars arranged in downwardly-divergent'form, a rearwardly-bowed cross-bar attached near the upper ends of said side bars, diagonal braces connecting said cross-bar with the side bars, means to vary the distance between the side bars, and means to adjust said braces along the cross-bar.

7. A skirt-hanger comprising side bars arranged in downwardly divergent form, a cross-bar rigidly uniting the upper ends of said side bars, means to vary the length of said cross-bar, a rearwardly-projecting skirtdistending member attached to the side bars in the vicinity of said cross-bar, and means for adjusting said member in a direction crosswise of the side bars.

8. A skirt-hanger comprising twobars pivoted together at their upper ends and arranged at an angle, a cross-bar rigidly connecting said two bars near their upper ends, means to vary the length of said cross-bar, a rearwardly-projecting skirt-distending member attached to the two bars in the vicinity of said cross-bar, and means for adjusting said member in a direction crosswise of the 

